Discovery of Ultrare Collection of Super Mario Cartridges

A few years ago, a pop culture store owner in Wisconsin mentioned to Jason Ganos, a well-known Nintendo game collector, about having a box of Super Mario cartridges stored away for years. This piqued Ganos’s interest significantly.

The find turned out to be an ultrarare collection of 97 exceptionally preserved copies of Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt, a widely-loved Nintendo game released in 1988. Ganos discovered that these cartridges were not only a new variant but also from the last known production period.

Most of the cartridges are set for sale in an online auction starting Friday, running until September 9. Ganos expressed disbelief about the situation, noting its serendipity and bizarreness. As a devoted Nintendo fan with Nintendo tattoos and over a decade running Nintendo Wire, a site for Nintendo news and nostalgia, Ganos was awed by the discovery.

It’s like pulling out a Holy Grail. — Jason Ganos

The discovery occurred after Kevin Braun, owner of One Stop Wonders in Waukesha near Milwaukee, asked Ganos to assist in selling items, including some Nintendo games and Pokémon cards.

A photo shared by Nintendo Wire shows uncirculated Nintendo Entertainment System copies of Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt in Waukesha. Braun remembered acquiring the cartridges from a customer whose family considered them scrap metal and undervalued them. These particular cartridges from 1993 were produced after the company ceased the bundle in 1991. Braun and Ganos speculate these were either warranty replacements or part of an unfulfilled retail bundle.

Realizing the potential value of the find, Ganos immediately traveled to California with 97 cartridges in his carry-on luggage, feeling nervous at airport security. He met with video game experts for verification and grading of the cartridges, determining their potential market value.

At Professional Sports Authenticator, no NES cartridge had achieved a perfect 10 score. Among the 97 Ganos brought, five secured this perfect rating. Ganos believes these scores hold significant historical value, being tied to many people’s childhoods and never before seen in NES cartridges.

Ultrarare game cartridges, especially those with unique production stories, can fetch six- to seven-figure sums in the collector’s market. Their immaculate condition amplifies their value, similar to comic books or sports cards.

Due to these cartridges being unlike any other collectibles he has encountered, Ganos cannot fully estimate their value, which might range from hundreds to thousands or even tens of thousands.

Ganos and Braun plan to auction only three of the perfect 10 cartridges at Golden Pop’s Culture Auction. Each keeps one perfect 10 as well as some rated in the higher 9s.

The games remain playable, but Ganos hopes their pristine state will be preserved. Finding uncirculated stuff for me is very exciting. This game was the first video game I ever played. He shared how Mario Duck Hunt significantly marked his childhood.

Braun and Ganos intend to follow this auction with a charity event after its conclusion.